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Alternative Medical Waste Treatment Technologies

Many hospitals and medical waste treatment facilities have discontinued use of incinerators because of increased costs. The costs of operating medical waste incinerators have risen mainly because of the recently enacted EPA regulations for Hospital/Medical/Infectious Waste Incinerators (HMIWI). A number of new technologies have been developed which minimize or nearly eliminate environmental discharges. A summary of some representative technologies is presented in USEPA Alternate Treatment Technologies Fact Sheets.

Applying for State Approval in North Carolina

It is necessary to obtain state approval to operate a new treatment technology in North Carolina. Vendors who would like to seek approval of a medical waste technology may submit information to obtain approval. Vendors should submit:

General description of the treatment system;

Efficacy data on representative microorganisms (a full report is required which includes complete information on experimental design, unsummarized and summarized data, and qualifications of the testing laboratory);

Description of any environmental discharges;

Information on worker safety aspects; and

Additional information may be required.

For further information, please contact the Solid Waste Section at (919-707-8290).

Technologies Approved for Use in North Carolina

The following is a list of alternative medical waste treatment technologies approved for use in North Carolina. Companies and products previously listed are either out of business or no longer market formerly approved products in North Carolina.